Regular Testing service available for extra care and supported living settings

NHS Test and Trace is making regular COVID-19 testing available to eligible Extra Care and Supported Living settings in England.

In order to be eligible for testing, Extra Care and Supported Living settings must meet both of the following criteria:

1. a closed community with substantial facilities shared between multiple people
2. where most residents receive the kind of personal care that is CQC regulated (rather than help with cooking, cleaning and shopping)

These criteria were set in consultation with the sector to identify settings most similar to care homes, and most at risk of an outbreak. As a result, settings meeting these criteria are ones where the risk of transmission and outbreak is high, and the impact on service users may be high given their vulnerability. If settings don’t meet both of the criteria, unfortunately this means they aren’t eligible to access testing through this programme at this time.

For further information, guidance on eligibility and details on DHSC webinars, please visit the Testing pages of the Sutton Care Hub.